Federal Audit Reveals More Problems At DC Airports

WASHINGTON (AP/WUSA) - A federal audit of the authority that runs metropolitan Washington's two major airports has revealed more problems, including overreliance on no-bid contracts and executives accepting expensive gifts from contractors.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has faced withering criticism for its oversight of a planned $5.6 billion extension of the region's Metrorail system to Dulles International Airport and other issues.

The audit released Thursday by the Department of Transportation's inspector general cites broad mismanagement and expands on an interim report earlier this year.

The audit found that executives accepted gifts like Super Bowl tickets from contractors and that the authority routinely awards no-bid contracts, even on work exceeding $200,000.

The audit does credit the authority for implementing reforms in recent months.

The authority planned a Thursday afternoon press conference to respond.